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Taken the last couple of weeks off to go to the Sierra's for some vacation time. My son-in-law, Billy and I were hitting the streams, and doing well on catching our limits every day. We decided to go to a remote lake in the mountains and hike in. At 12 oclock we started down a 35 % grade and battled with the mosquitos. Arriving around 1300, bright sunny summer day, we started fishing. Billy was knocking them dead, but I wasn't having any luck. Storm clouds started to move in, with thunder and lighting. oh well, a little water won't hurt, and it will chase off the mosquitos. By 1400 we were in a torrential down pour, with rain drops as big as an inch, hail and snow falling. We were in the belly of the beast. Rain falling like someone pouring a bucket over my head. Knowing that there was a road that did head up to the lake, but it was closed, Billy and I split up, and I headed for the gate, while he went back up the hill to get the Jeep. I didn't think I could make it back up the hill in this weather.
Packing as much gear as I could to make it easier on Billy, I started walking down towards the road. I came across signs saying no tresspassing, violators will be shot. Turns out that I walked right into a rich mans survivilist camp. There were several roads going in different directions, and I saw the lights on in one small cabin. Walking up to the cabin, I yelled hello in the house. A man who looked like a city slicker answered the door. I told him that I'd seen his signs, and if he would point me to the road leading out to the gate, I would be on my way. But if he felt a need to call the Sherriff, he would be doing me a favor. They brought me in, gave me hot fluids, warming me up next to the fire, and using hair dyrers to warm me up. I started shaking, and couldn't controll myself. Hypothermia. They gave me some dry shirts, and called their caretaker, who was a very stout young man, who repairs and gaurds the place. He got his Jeep and gave me a ride down to the gate, which was another 3 miles. The caretaker told me that this was a rich man camp, and there were over 30 cabins located there. I had no doubt that the caretaker could handle himself, after seeing the few weapons that they had. Don't ask me where this is, as I won't tell, out of respect to their privacy.
We got to the gate, and Billy was waiting for me. Was really happy to see him, and to know that he made it out. Moral to the story is, even a trash bag would have made all the difference in staying dry and warm. Middle of summer, I never thought about the weather changing so drastically. They say in the Sierra's, if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. They are correct. Kevin.
Packing as much gear as I could to make it easier on Billy, I started walking down towards the road. I came across signs saying no tresspassing, violators will be shot. Turns out that I walked right into a rich mans survivilist camp. There were several roads going in different directions, and I saw the lights on in one small cabin. Walking up to the cabin, I yelled hello in the house. A man who looked like a city slicker answered the door. I told him that I'd seen his signs, and if he would point me to the road leading out to the gate, I would be on my way. But if he felt a need to call the Sherriff, he would be doing me a favor. They brought me in, gave me hot fluids, warming me up next to the fire, and using hair dyrers to warm me up. I started shaking, and couldn't controll myself. Hypothermia. They gave me some dry shirts, and called their caretaker, who was a very stout young man, who repairs and gaurds the place. He got his Jeep and gave me a ride down to the gate, which was another 3 miles. The caretaker told me that this was a rich man camp, and there were over 30 cabins located there. I had no doubt that the caretaker could handle himself, after seeing the few weapons that they had. Don't ask me where this is, as I won't tell, out of respect to their privacy.
We got to the gate, and Billy was waiting for me. Was really happy to see him, and to know that he made it out. Moral to the story is, even a trash bag would have made all the difference in staying dry and warm. Middle of summer, I never thought about the weather changing so drastically. They say in the Sierra's, if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. They are correct. Kevin.
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